Mounting device



DeC- 3, v1957 H. M. SULLIVAN, JR, ET AL 2,814,995?

' MOUNTING DVICE Filed sept. 24, 1952 2 Smets-sheet 1 INVENTORS H. M.suLLlvAN TR. R.c. BRANsFlEf.

.wf/wav AOR Dec. 3, 1957 H. M. SULLIVAN, JR, ETAL '2,814,995 l MOUNTINGDEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed sept. 24, 1952 V A w l JNVENT'oRs. H. M.SULLIVAN, TR. R.C. BRANSFIELD Ajo/@NZS United States Patent MOUNTINGDEVICE Herbert M. Sullivan, Jr., and Robert C. Bransiield, Borger,

Tex., assignors to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of DelawareApplication September 24, 1952, Serial No.` 311,194 8 Claims. (Cl.1025-218) This invention relates toa mounting device particularlyadapted for use in supporting a pump or other heavy apparatus.

Heretofore, considerable diiiiculty has been experienced in providingsuitable supports for heavy apparatus, such as motorspump units,compressors, and the like. In oil reiineries, pumps have suction anddischarge lines which oftentimes carry fluids at high temperatures, andthese lines have horizontally and vertically extending portions whichexpand and contract as the hot fluids are passed therethrough, and thellow of such materials is stopped. The resultinghorizontal and verticalforces mechanically transmitted to the pump `by the suction anddischarge lines are of considerable magnitude and are capable ofdamaging a rigid pump mounting. Further, due to the uneven distributionof weight on the frame or bed plate supporting the pump, diculties areencountered in maintaining the support accurately in a level position.

In accord-ance with this invention, a mounting device is providedcapable of taking up the stresses produced by horizontal and verticalexpansion of the lines connected to the pump or other apparatussupported thereby, and the mounting is so constructed that the bed platecan be accurately leveled after the pump has been installed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedload-supporting mounting device.

-lt is a further object to provide a mounting device for a pump which isnot damaged by horizontal or vertical expansion or contraction of thelines lconnected to the pump.-

lIt is .a still further object to provide a mounting device which can berapidly and conveniently leveled after instal-lation of the pump -orsimilar piece of heavy .apparatus carried thereby. Y

It is a still further object to provide a mounting device which isreliable in operation, easily adjusted, economical to manufacture, andwhich has a long life under adverse conditions.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an end view of a motor-pump assembly;I

Figure 2 is 4a top view of .a mounting device constructed in accordancewith the invention;

-Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the structure of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a vertical .sectional View, partially in elevation, of loneof the spring mountings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown an assemblyincluding a pump and a motor 10a, the pu-mp having a suction line 11 anda discharge line 12, the suction `and discharge lines incorporating averticallyextending portion 13 and a horizontally-extending portion 14.The pump is carried by the novel mounting device of this invention whichis indicated generally by reference numerals and 19. It will be notedthat expansion or contraction of the vertical and horizontal .portions13, 14

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of the suction and discharge lines 11, 12: produces 4a correspondingstress upon the -mounting device 115. In accor-dance with thisinvention, the mounting device is constructed so that limited horizontalor vertical movement of the support can take place responsive to thesestresses, thereby preventing damage to the supporting structure or pump.Further, the pump bed plate can be leveled after the unit has beeninstalled.

'The detailed structure of the mounting device performing thesefunctions is shown -by Figures 2 and 3, and this device includesstationary base means 1d and an auxiliary supporting structure 17supported upon vertically yieldable means such as spring assemblies 18.A load supporting structure, such as a rectangular frame 19, disposedfor horizontal movement relative to the auxiliary supporting structure17.

lt will be noted that frame 19 is of generally rectangular constructionand is provided with two diagonally extending braces 20 and 2l. Thisframe can constitute the bed plate of the pump 10 of Figure l or,alternatively, it can constitute a sub-bed plate supporting the main bedplate, not shown, of the pump.

The frame 19 is provided with two sets 22, 23 and 24, 25 of lugs whichare securely fastened to the frame, preferably :at the respectivecorners thereof, and the two sets of l-ugs cooperate with pipes or `rods26 and 27, respectively, which form a part of the auxiliary supportingstructure 17, so as to detine a slidable connection between these parts.lt will be evident, therefore, that the frame 19 is capable of limitedhorizontal movement relative to the rods 26, 27 so that stresses causedby expansion of horizontal sections of the pump discharge and suctionlines merely cause sliding movement ofthe bed plate along the rodswithout damaging the pump or supporting structure. iIn this connection,it will be noted that best results are obtained where the longesthorizontal sections of the lines connected to the pump yare generallyparallel to the rods 26 .and 27. To facilitate the described sl-idingmovement, the lugs .can be provided with suitable grease fittings, oneof which is indicated by reference numeral 30.

Each of the rods 26, 27 is supported by tvv-o spring assemblies 18disposed at the respective ends thereof. Referring to Figure 3, it willbe noted that each spring assembly includes a generally cylindricalsleeve yor cap 32 t-o which is secured a radiallyeprotruding socket 33.The respective ends of the rod or pipe 27 iit within and are supported'by the sockets 33. lPipe 26 is supported in a similar manner by the twoadjacent .spring assemblies 18. Referring Anow to Figure 4, which showsthe detailed construction of each of the spring assemblies 18, it willbe noted that the lower portion of cap 32 extends downwardly into agenerally cylindrical casing 36 buried beneath the surface of the earthin a concrete foundation 36a, the lower end of the casing being closedby an end plates 37. A cover plate 37a is provided to prevent materialfrom entering the casing 36. An elongated threaded adjusting rod 38 ismounted in a vertical position `within the casing 36 and concentrictherewith, this rod extending upwardly through `the cap 32 and having anupwardly protruding portion 39. .The .lower end of the adjusting nod 38is received within a bearing block 40 secured to the end plate 37.

Threaded to the rod 38 is an annular disk or liange 41 having aplurality of radially-extending slots disposed about its peripherywithin which are received a plural-ity of keys 42 which extendvertically and protrude inwardly from the casing 36. The keys 42 preventrotation of the disk 41 but perrnit axial or longitudinal movementthereof upon the rod 38. Consequently, .as the rod 38 rotated, the disk41 is moved vertically along `thekeys 42; "Such `movement of the rod canbe elfeeted, `f'oii enainple by y 3 inserting a suitable pin through adiametric 'bore 43 provided .at the top protruding portion 39 of theadjusting rod.

An annular member such as flange 44 is secured to the lower end of capor sleeve 32 and encircles the adjusting rod 38. A strong helical spring45 encircles the adjusting rod 38, the upper end of the spring beingsecured to 44 and the lower end of the spring being secured to the disk41, which, therefore, constitutes a spring-supporting member.

It will be evident that the weight of the pump is supported by the frame19, Figure 2, which, in turn, is supported by the pipes or rods 26, 27the ends of which are in turn .supported by the caps 32 so that thethrust produced by the weight of the pump is transmitted through therespective springs 45 of the assemblies 118 to the disk-s 41 and,thence, through the adjusting rod and bearing block 40 to the guound.Accordingly, each disk 41, although it is movable vertical-ly withrespect to the stationary base defined by the casing 36 and end plate37, is effective in transmitting the thrust produced by the weight ofthe pump from the spring to the stationary base structure.

It will be evident that stresses resulting from contraction or expansionof the vertical portions 13 of the pump suction and discharge lines willbe transmitted to the supporting structure and result in a verticalmovement thereof, as permitted by the suspending springs 45, rather thanresulting in damage to the pump or support as would be the case if thesupport were rigid vertically. Furthermore, by rotating the adjustingrods 38, the amount of thrust transmitted by the springs 45 can beindividually varied as desired. As a corollary to this, the verticalposi- :tion of each of the four corners of the structure, as defined bythe ends of the pipes or rods 26, 27, can be individually adjusted,thereby permitting the frame or bed plate 29 to be leveled after thepump `and its connections have been installed. The engagement of thelugs with the rods or pipes 26, 2.7 permits horizontal movement of thepump relative to the supportresponsive to horizontal stresses imposed byexpansion or contraction of the horizontally extending portion 14 of thesuction and discharge lines 11 and 12. Finally, it will be noted thatthe frame 19 is disposed generally at the level of the surface of theearth, i. e., slightly above it, while the spring supports themselvesand their 'associated structure are mounted below the level of `thesurface of the earth. This keeps to a minimum protruding parts whichtend to interfere with maintenance of the pump or other equipment, andpermits the mounting height of the supported equipment to be vthe sameas with `an ordinary mounting. Where the supported equipment is 'a pump,the low mounting permits more net positive suction head -on the pumpimpeller when pumping from a vessel of fixed height, which oftentimesmeans the difference between reliable and unreliable pump operation. Theprovision of the keys and non-rotatable disk 41 provides a very positiveaction when the spring support is adjusted, rand the unit is veryreadily dismantled for maintenance or repair due to the novelconstruction of the spring :assemblies.

While the invention has been described in connection with a present,preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that thisdescription is illustrative only and is not intended to limit theinvention.

This case is related to Serial No. 335,894 tiled February 9, 1953, nowPatent No. 2,708,084, and Serial No. 379,753, filed September 14, 1953,same assignee.

We claim:

1. A mounting device comprising, in combination, stationary base means,two pairs of spring assemblies carried by said base means, a pair ofspaced parallel horizontal rods carried by the respective pairs ofspring assemblies, each yspring of said assemblies extending verticallyand transferring :a portion of the thrust imparted to the rod supportedthereby to said base means, means for adjusting said springsindividually to vary the proportion of the 4 thrust transferred by theindividual springs, a generall rectangular frame structure adapted tosupport a load, and two sets of lugs secured to'said frame structure,each set of lugs cooperating with one of said rods to define a slidingconnection therewith, whereby said frame is mounted for horizontal andvertical movement relative to said stationary base means.

2. An improved pump means comprising, in combination, a stationary basemeans, two pairs of spring assemblies carried 'by said base means, apair of spaced parallel horizontal rods carried by the respective pairsof spring assemblies, each spring of said assemblies extendingvertically and transferring a portion of the thrust imparted to the rodsupported thereby to said base means, means for ladjusting said springsindividually to vary the proportion of the thrust transferred by theindividual springs, a generally rectangular frame structure, two sets oflugs secured to said frame structure, each set of lugs cooperating withone lof said rods to deline a sliding connection, whereby said frame ismounted for horizontal and vertical movement relative to said stationarybase means, a pump secured to and carried by said frame, said pumphaving a suction line and a discharge line, said lines including avertically-extending portion and a horizontally-extending portion, saidhorizontally-extending portion being generally parallel to said rods.

3. A mounting device comprising, in combination, stationary base means,an auxiliary supporting structure, a plurality of spring assembliessupporting said auxiliary structure and carried by said base means, eachspring assembly including a vertical threaded adjusting rod, an annulardisk threaded to said rod having at least one radially-extending slotformed in the edge thereof, a generally cylindrical casing surroundingsaid rod and having at least one vertically-extending key protrudinginwardly therefrom and fitting within the slot on said disk, whereby thedisk is constrained against rotation and rotation of the rod causesaxial movement of the disk, a bearing block receiving the bottom end ofsaid adjusting rod, an annular spring support encircling said adjustingrod and secured to said auxiliary supporting structure, and a helicalspring having one end thereof secured to said spring support and theother end thereof secured to said annular disk, said spring encirclingsaid adjusting rod, and a load supporting structure carried by andmounted for horizontal movement relative to said auxiliary structure.

4. A mounting device comprising, in combination, stationary base means,two pairs of spring assemblies carried by said stationary means, a pairof spaced, parallel, hori- Zontally-extending rods supported by therespective pairs of spring assemblies, -a generally rectangular frameadapted to support a load and having two sets of lugs secured thereto,each set of lugs cooperating with one of said rods to form a slidingconnection therewith, whereby the frame is adapted for horizontal andvertical movement relative to said base means, each spring assemblyincluding a vertical threaded adjusting rod, an annular disk threaded tosaid adjusting rod having rat least one radially-extending slot formedin the edge thereof, a generally cylindrical casing surrounding saidadjusting rod and having at least one vertically-extending keyprotruding inwardly therefrom and fitting within the slot on said disk,whereby the disk is constrained against rotation, and rotation of theadjusting rod causes Iaxial movement of the disk, a bearing blockreceiving the bottom end of said adjusting rod, an annular springsupport encircling said adjusting rod and secured to the adjacent one ofsaid horizontally-extending rods, and a helical spring encircling saidadjusting rod, one end of said spring being attached to said annulardisk, and the other end of said spring being attached to said annular`spring support.

5. ln combination, a stationary base, a load supporting structure, and aspring mounting for said structure includying an elongated threadedvertical adjust-ing rod, an annular disk carried by the threaded portionof said rod and having a plurality of slots extending radially inwardfrom the periphery thereof, a casing concentric with and surroundingsaid adjusting rod, a plurality of vertically eX- tending, inwardlyprotruding keys, one for each slot, carried by said casing and ttingwithin the respective slots to prevent rotation of said annular disk, abase plate at the bottom of said casing, a bearing block carried by saidbase plate and receiving the lower end of said adjusting rod, an annularsupport encircling said rod and secured to said load supportingstructure, and a helical spring encircling said rod, one end of saidspring being secured to said annular `disk and the other end of saidspring being secured to said annular support.

6, The combination of claim wherein the load supporting structure isdisposed just above the level of the surface of the earth, and whereinsaid casing and its associated parts are buried beneath the surface ofthe earth.

7. In combination, a stationary base, a load supporting structure, `aspring mounting for said structure including an elongated threaded-adjusting rod, said rod being freely rotatable, a `casing concentricwith and surrounding said rod, a supporting member for the springcarried by the threaded portion of said rod, means carried by saidcasing and adapted to register with complementary means carried by saidlsupporting member to constrain the latter 'against rotation, wherebyrotation of said rod effects 1ongitudinal movement of said supportingmember, a spring supported member, and a spring having the respectiveends thereof secured to said members, said supported member beingsecured to and movable with said load supporting structure, saidsupporting member being mounted in thrust-transferring relation to saidstationary base.

8. In combination, a stationary base, a load supporting structure, and aspring mount-ing for said structure including an elongated threadedadjusting rod, said rod being freely rotatable, a casing concentric withand surrounding said rod, a supporting member for the spring carried bythe threaded portion of said rod, locking means yextending radiallyinward from said casing vand adapted to register with complementarylocking means carried by said supporting member to constrain the latteragainst rotation, whereby rotation of said rod eiTects longitudinalmovement of -said supporting member, `a spring supported member, and aspring having the ends thereof secured to said members, said supportedmember being secured to and movable with said load supporting structure,said supporting member being mounted in thrust-transferring relation tosaid stationary base.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,491,423 Rice Apr. 22, 1924 1,523,987 Spreen lan. 20, 1925 1,570,591Mercer Jan. 19, 1926 1,986,132 Bigelow Ian. 1, 1935 2,383,655 JohnsonAug. 28, 1945 2,456,612 Baudry Dec. 21, 1948 2,468,043 Crede et al. Apr.26, 1949 2,540,525 Howarth Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,847 GreatBritain of 1911 707,308 Germany June 18, 1941

